The Cocoon Nebula, which includes both emission and
reflection nebulosity, is a stellar nursery with its delicate fabric
of glowing hydrogen torn asunder by the solar wind of newborn stars.
Beyond the glow of the hydrogen, the surrounding interstellar dust
begins to dominate. At the edge of the red emission nebula,
this dust reflects pale blue light from nearby stars. Farther
away, the dust fades, and instead blocks the light of the background
stars. The nebula is about 12 arc-minutes across, but in
actual size is about 15 light-years across.

The star cluster IC 5146 is sparse and only contains
about 20 stars, the brightest of which is about magnitude 9.6 near
the center of the cluster and nebula. This cluster is about
4000 light-years away.

The dark nebula B168 (Barnard) is visible in
binoculars and is rather interesting amidst the rich star fields in
Cygnus. This dark nebula surrounds the cluster-nebula and then
extends westward forming the appearance of a trail behind the
Cocoon.

IMAGE DETAILS:

Date & Location: November 25, 2011
- Bernville, PA

Weather: Calm wind, Temperature
Start - 45F / End - 33F

Sky Conditions: Clear with
average transparency, but some high clouds near end.